In a stunning blow to traditionalists, the latest government reshuffle has seen a lawyer appointed as the UK’s new Justice Secretary, with minister David Gauke transferring from Work and Pensions to take over from David Lidington. Lidington lasted all of six months as Lord Chancellor, having been last year drafted in to replace the gaffe-prone …
For most law firms, nailing down your c-suite successor two years in advance may look excessive, but when your leader is a veteran who could give Nigel Knowles a run for his money in industry prominence, it may be a wise move. Such appears to be the logic at mid-tier thoroughbred Macfarlanes, which has confirmed …
It was one of the defining moments of the year: on 7 May president-elect Emmanuel Macron strode towards the stage outside the Louvre to give his victory speech to Ode to Joy. Much has been written on what that moment meant for France as a more confident, globally-minded country. The triumph of a 39-year-old ex-banker …
Continue reading “Letter from Paris: After the malaise, local counsel rediscover la joie de vivre”
Capping off another busy year for European buyouts, Linklaters lined up opposite Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Dentons as Unilever agreed to sell its spreads business to private equity giant KKR for €6.8bn (£6bn). Corporate partner Matthew Bland (pictured) led the Magic Circle law firm’s team for the consumer goods group, which announced on Friday …
Despite a recent overhaul of its partnership to reward top performers, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has lost private equity heavyweight David Higgins to Kirkland & Ellis in one of the most expensive lateral hires ever in the City. Higgins is set to join the US law firm as London co-managing partner in a deal worth around $10m …
Jeremy Cohen will lead Dentons’ UK and Middle East operations until 2021 after the partnership approved him for a second term following an election in which he stood unopposed. Meanwhile, the firm also announced today (14 December) that UK managing partner Brandon Ransley has decided to step down from his role in April 2018 and …
Continue reading “Dentons re-elects Cohen as UKME chief as UK managing partner steps down”
Days after veteran managing partner Tim Eyles announced he is stepping down next year, Taylor Wessing has elected Dominic FitzPatrick as its new senior partner, effective immediately. Private equity specialist and a former head of the firm’s energy group, FitzPatrick replaces Adam Marks after six years.
Three partners exit in two weeks November was not an easy month for beleaguered Ashurst, with the firm hit by three key partner exits from disputes and corporate in two weeks.
As the advance of US players in London continues, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton hired disputes partner James Norris-Jones (pictured) from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) to its office in the capital. Norris-Jones, who was made a partner at HSF in 2012, has a broad practice that encompasses High Court litigation as well as arbitration. His …
Last October, Linklaters’ Charlie Jacobs took over as senior partner amid high hopes that the rainmaker would bring flair and dynamism to leadership at a City giant that looked in danger of losing its way. One year on, Legal Business sat down with Jacobs to discuss progress made. On taking the senior partner role: ‘When …
